Holy Cream Soup!

Being overweight one would think I LOVE creamy, fatty soups!  NOT TRUE!  I actually hate them.  I've gone thru 33 yrs of life without so much as a spoonful.  However, the other day I was perusing the web for recipes and as usual my favorite site http://www.skinnytaste,com/ produced a recipe for Chicken Pot Pie Soup.  The picture looked pretty yummy but still, white and creamy.  So not my thing but this new healthy eating kick has opened my eyes to many new things so off to the market I went.  It went together quickly and smelled good but still, it was creamy!  I wasn't sure I could bring myself to take a bite but I'm so glad I did!  It was pretty darn good!  Here's a pic!

And yeah...  I know it's time to put away the Christmas placemat!

Applebees

The past few meetings people have mentioned Applebees Weight Watcher meals.  They raved about the Steak and Potato Salad.   "To die for" was one of the quotes.  So off to dinner I go.  My Mom is doing Weight Watchers as well so we decided to get two dishes and split.  She orders the Steak and Potato Salad and I ordered the Spicy Pineapple Glazed Shrimp & Spinach.  She attempted to order hers without the onions, the waitress informed her if she ordered it sans onions it would also cause her to not get any red peppers.  When asked why the waitress said because it's a WW meal everything is weighed and so they pre mix the chopped veggies.  Weird.  Enter meals....

The Steak and Potato Salad looked tasty enough.  The portion was pretty large, the steaked cooked perfectly and a good amount of potato.  That being said, the dish was pretty tasteless.  It was completely bland and cold potatos aren't my thing. 

The Spicy Pineapple Glazed Shrimp & Spinach was even less appealing.  2 skewers of shrimp (I think 5 per skewer), a small pile of white rice and a slimy spoon full of pineapple salsa on some uncooked spinach leaves.  Of course I wasn't about to use points on butter for the luke warm rice so I tried to mix it with the salsa stuff.  Blah.  Didn't help much.  The shrimp was good but it wasn't glazed as the name suggests. 

I left feeling totally unsatisfied, with less money in my bank account and annoyed.  I give them props for trying to help us dieters out but I could make a much better meal at home!  From now on no eating out unless I'm enjoying an actual restaurant quality meal! 

The beer quandry

I love beer... ALOT.
Like way more than the average bear. 
I'm smart enough to know I can't/won't give it up so for me to be successful on WW I've got to keep drinking!  Enter the quandry!  Some nights I just want a few beers, usually 2 or 3.  On those nights I drink something dark and delish like a microbrew from my fav brewery or if I must I'll drink a Sam Adams seasonal.  It's heavy in my belly, makes me feel like I just ate a steak and gives me that la la la buzzy feeling I crave at times.   Other nights I know I'm out for the long haul and don't want to blow all my weekly points on 1 night so I'll drink Michelob Ultra which is both depressing and waterish.  Lately I've been trying to decide which is better for me.

Sam Adams

Pros:
Yummy
Filling
Quicker buzz

Cons:
More expensive (point and $ wise)

Mich Ultra

Pros:
Cheaper
Less points

Cons:
Yucky
Takes alot to catch a buzz. 
Goes down quick!

So yes, decisions, decisions... Why must life be so hard!!!???  LOL

Liquid Dinners

OK so I'm going to admit something here...
On nights I have a date I don't eat dinner!  I save my points for beer!  BAD GIRL! 
Haha.  I do make sure I get my daily requirements in during the early part of the day though!  I typically eat a big bowl of veggie soup before I go then the rest of my points are all mine to drink, guzzle and swig!  For me this works well for 2 reasons....

1.  I catch a buzz quicker!
2.  I don't go over my daily points.
3.  No dinner makes me a cheap date!
4.  The soup makes me have to pee alot so I think I earn an activity point or two speed walking to and from the ladies room :)

Busy Hands

I've been busy this week, KNITTING!  My cousin does a fundraiser every year.  Instead of collecting money she collects crafts then has a craft sale.  All the profits go to the charity.  This year I decided to create my own product and I LOVE it!!!  It's super cute and useful!   All you coffee drinkers out there are probably famililar with the cardboard ring they put on your cup at Starbucks and other coffee joints.  I decided to pretty them up!

Here is it....

My favorite blogger....

said my name and answered my q in her blog! How pathetic is it that I'm excited about it!? Haha. No seriously, this chick is bad ass. She has documented her whole WW journey for us all to see. She's totally adorable and I LOVE how ballsy she is! She posts pics of herself from the beginning of her battle to present, some all dolled up, some scantily clad and my fav are the random bathroom shots she takes on the go! You definately should check it out. HOPEFULLY someday my blog (and pics!) will be as successful as hers!  Click here #links to see the click.  It's in her 1st video. 

Thursday - Weigh In Day!

So my weigh in day is Thursdays so typically on Wednesday nights (one of my kidless nights) I stay in.  This Wednesday I didn't.  I had been home all week and was going a little stir crazy!  I was going to meet up with one of my friends but she cancelled after I'd already left the house.  I really didn't want to stay home so I went anyway!  It was kareoke night, yuck!  Clothes wise I was wearing ripped jeans rolled up a few times, boots, a tank, a cute grey cardigan and a scarf.  Nothing fancy, pretty casual. 

Enter man 1 : Older gentleman, I'd say late 50s early 60s.  I'm sipping my beer, he is mayyybe 3 inches from my face staring intently.  Me : "Why are you staring at me?"  Him: "I think you're very pretty"  and so the conversation goes on name, what do you do etc.  I was doing my very best to be polite but the guy was creeping me out.  He asks me to dance (Note: NO ONE is dancing).  I say no, he says "FINE, I guess we just aren't connecting!!!!" and storms off. 

Enter man 2 :  A guy I used to date and his boss.  He goes to introduce us and totally f's up my name.  I've known the guy for years and he NEVER knew how to pronounce my name!  GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Enter man 3 : "Hello, will you dance with me?"  Me "No thank you".  He turns and walks off.

Bartender : "Holy crap you're alone!  Every time I come over to talk to you there's a different man chatting you up.  I was trying to find some time to talk to you!"

Enter men 4, 5 and 6 :  A group of friends trying to get me to sing kareoke with me.  Young, cute things.  They would be trouble!

Enter man 7 : The guy I used to dates BOSS!  He sits down and asks if I mind the company.  We chat for alot of the night, I convince him to sing kareoke.  He tells me he has every piece of laundry he owns ironed.  Shirts, jeans, underwear and even his socks!  Totally weird!  He fails my test by not offering buying me a beer.  That's a big negative in my book.  At the end of the night I do give him my number.  We'll see if I go out with him again. 

During the course of the evening I also got a facebook message from an old classmate asking me out.  He was always a fun guy and we're both still single so what the heck.  We have plans tomorrow night. 

Needless to say I was pretty much on cloud 9 this AM.  After all the male attention I was even more stoked about my Weight Watchers journey!  It's really working!!!!!!!!  Woo hoo!  I weighed in... down another 1.6 to bring my total to 9lbs.  Yay me!  So 3 weeks in, 9 lbs down.  If I could keep a 10 lb per month pace I think in a few months I'll be feeling pretty spectacular!  Hope you're all doing well with your losses too!

What the.... ?

Every once in awhile I like to peruse the web for things I want to buy "when I get skinny".   Today is super snowy and makes me want a Carribean vacation and so... of COURSE I'm looking at bathing suits.  I looked and looked and finally found one I think I want to order. After all some day I will be thin and able to wear it so what the heck, might as well buy it now right? 

The site boasta "The "Bay Watch" bikini life jacket concept is brilliant on three levels: It can help save lives, it is much more attractive to wear than traditional life jackets and your likelihood of being saved by a male lifeguard in the area probably increases ten-fold when you are wearing it. Plus, it looks as though there is some additional padding in the rear to achieve J-Lo levels of buoyancy. Again, it is only a concept at this point, but it certainly has mounds of potential. "

Obviously I'm kidding, I can't even begin to imagine the stares one would get wearing this!  But seriously, I've rocked the tankini for years and would totally dig wearing something other than that.  5 months to bathing suit season.... Might not be bikini ready this summer but next year I'm all over it!

Current Obsessions

Being overweight there are lots of things I want... when I'm thin!  BUT since I'm not yet there are my go to items I can't live without!  They make life a little easier and much more fun!

My pink Nalgene bottle.  I literally use this every day.  For me drinking water SUCKS!  I do it because I need to and ONLY succeed it if I find a pretty way to do it! 

Viva La Juicy perfume!  I only buy the small purse side one and carry it all the time!  Great for touch ups!

Buxom lipgloss in Dolly.  It's got a lovely lip plumper in it that some how manages to moisturize without being sticky!  I literally apply this about 10 times a day.  It's ridiculusly good!



This is always in my freezer!  And I am not exaggerating when I say always!  It is the creamiest, yummiest thing on the planet.  I save points most nights for a bowl!  Add some frozen thawed mixed berries and MMMMm perfect dessert!

Scarves!  I have many, different lengths, colors and patterns!  The jazz up any outfit and the longer ones tend to hide a lil tummy :)

My lime green IPOD Nano.  I used to have a snazzy Touch but funny story....

One day I traveling home from Rochester after a visit with my sister.  I had plans to meet a guy for a few drinks, 1st date, exciting!!!!!  Well it rained ALOT and it slowed traffic to a crawl.  I was running about an hour behind.  I still had to pretty up and knew I'd never make it to the place we'd chosen.  So, I ask the guy if we can change the location to a bar closer to home.   He agreed, I dashed home, speed prettied and zipped out of the house!  About a minute out of my driveway I realize "OH NOOOO, I forgot my little clutch and all I've got is my big shoulder bag that pretty much houses half of what I own!".  I don't have time to go back so I call him and  explain why I'm going to look totally dweeby pursewise.  He of course doesn't know the difference between a clutch and a shoulder bag so in I go.  He was handsome, the beers were going down easy, conversation was great... and so it went on and on for quite some time.  We're deep in convo when a waitress runs over and says "OMG did you have a purse?" I look down and sure enough, my big ol shoulder bag that was perched on the back of my stool is now gone.   They take off after the guy who has already hopped in the car ready with a getaway driver and poof, gone... with  my purse.   Enter tears, cops, etc.  Now I'm annoyed because 1.  I was stupid enough to put my bag there.  2.  I was oblivious enough to not notice he snagged it.  3.  I let myself get so engrossed in a man that I tuned out everything else!   UGH!  So I'll give you the run down on what was in that bag.... 1. IPOD Touch, 1 IPOD Nano (My daugher's) 1 Digital Camera, 1 Pandora Bracelet, 1 and ONLY set of car keys, $150 cash, Viva La Juicy perfume, Buxom lipgloss, a checkbook and some other misc items.  Not to mention the bag was about $150.  Now normally this wouldn't all be in there but as I said, I had just been on a trip!  So needless to say I'm pretty devestated, a blubbery mess and now need a ride home.  Luckily my date drove me home and he drives a Hummer so that was pretty cool!  The next day a lovely woman called and said she found my bag in her trash can and in it, my car keys and checkbook!  Small victory!  The man didn't work out and I didn't get any stuff back but I did learn a very valuable lesson!  LET NO MAN MAKE YOU UNAWARE!  Heck, no food either cuz let's be real, sometimes my plate of food is far more delicious looking than my date!

In case Weight Watchers doesn't work...

This is my 3rd attempt at Weight Watchers.  It has worked every time I've joined BUT I have not worked every time!  I would get to a 30 lb weight loss, get bored and stop going!  TERRIBLE!  So, while I'm very committed this year I decided I need a back up plan.  Here it is...

JUST KIDDING!  This gave me a laugh, hope it does for you too!

Merry Monday!

Well it's Monday and being that I'm not back to work yet I don't dread it!  My daughter had the day off from school so after a quick trip to the grocery store we started in on lunch.  She had Annie's Organic Mac N Cheese.  Her fav part is the groovy box it comes in!

We don't eat organic all the time but definitely make an effort to do so as much as possible.  The regulations as to what is actually considered "Certified Organic" are pretty lax so I'm not neurotic about buying it.  In short, if it isn't specifically labeled "100% Organic" it isn't completely organic.  Still ALMOST organic is better than not organic at all!  Haha. 

My lunch was infinitely better!!  Last night I made a pot of sauce (two large cans of crushed tomatoes, garlic, basil) and turkey meatballs.  I've never made meatballs before because my Mom makes THE BEST EVER!  I simply can't compare in my daughter's eyes so I don't even try.   However, being on WW I decided to tackle turkey meatballs.  The risk was well worth it!  They were spectacular!  Ingredients were simple, ground turkey, garlic (I don't like biting into chunks, might use garlic powder next time), whole wheat breadcrumbs, parm cheese, 1 egg and fresh parsley.  I made 40 mini meatballs.  My daughter and I had it over that blended pasta, the name escapes me.  I really wanted mine over spaghetti squash but I couldn't find any at the store.  The points for the tiny portion weren't worth it but add the sauce and meatballs and YUM!  The meatballs ended up being 1 pt a piece so for lunch I picked up some great Italian rolls (2 pts for 2 oz), topped it with meatballs and sauce and some low fat mozz cheese.  After a few minutes in the oven I had a delish lunch!  I added a salad with some olive oil to get one of my oils in.   It was a great, filling lunch!  If anyone wants the meatball recipe visit skinnytaste.com and search meatballs.  The ones I made are the "Skinny Italian Meatballs (Turkey)".  Here's a photo!

This was on a large dinner plate so it's a pretty good portion!  Hope all of you had a great Monday!

My favorite breakfast EVER!

I don't think I've mentioned this before but I'm currently recovering from shoulder surgery so am out of work for a bit.  That means I wake up slightly late and have time to make elaborate breakfasts!  I made one last week from the new Weight Watchers Points Plus cookbook and man am I hooked!!!!!  I think I've eaten it all but one day since!  It's called Eggs with Polenta and Spicy Black Beans.  I've never tried Polenta before but I'll try most things once.  It was easy to make, pre made polenta sliced and warmed in the oven.  Black beans and salsa with a little cayenne cooked on the stove and 1 egg cooked in cooking spray.   You put three slices of polenta on the plate, top with the bean mixture and egg then sprinkle with taco cheese.  NOTE :  If you do it as the book says the cheese doesn't melt well.   I put the beans down, then the cheese then the egg on top so it melts better.  This meal fills ya right up and keeps you full for hours!  I make a big batch then just pop the polenta on the plate, top with beans, top with cheese and put it all in the microwave.   Then make my egg to order.  Here's a pic!

Saturday Cooking!

On the weekends I LOVE to cook!  I pretty much always make a huge pot of vegetable soup (0 PP) so I've got it on hand for the week.  The veggies vary but typically I start with a few cans of diced tomatos, chicken stock, water and a big bunch of broccoli rabe and add whatever else I have in the fridge.  Yesterday it was broccoli, cauliflower, yellow squash, shreaded cabbage and zucchini.  I eat at least one bowl a day it's that good!  Here's the finished product!

After the soup making my daughter and I played some board games and dress up!  We were headed to a 40th birthday party and needed to bring an appetizer.  We decided on Buffalo Chicken Dip.  I had previously found a lighter version on a blog I follow... http://www.skinnytaste.com/ The author Gina is an excellent cook and I have loved everything I've made from her site.  Here's the recipe :

Lighter Buffalo Chicken Dip

All the flavor of buffalo wings without messy hands! Perfect for your Superbowl Party. I lightened this using low fat and fat free ingredients. Adjust the heat to your liking and serve this with celery, chips or crackers.



Lighter Buffalo Chicken Dip
Gina's Weight Watcher RecipesServings: 9 • Serving Size: 1/2 cup • Old Points: 3 pts • Points+: 3 pts
Calories: 107.9 • Fat: 4.9 g • Carbs: 5.4 g • Fiber: 0 g • Protein: 10.3 g

• 4 oz reduced fat cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup fat free sour cream
• 1/2 cup Franks hot sauce (or whatever hot sauce you like)
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1 tsp white wine vinegar
• 2 cups (2 breasts) cooked shredded chicken

Mix the first 5 ingredients together until smooth. Add the chicken and put this in the crock pot on low for 3-4 hours. Serve warm. Makes 5 1/2 cups

And here's a pic of my daugher making it!  The wing sauce on it made her plug her nose and obviously she's still in dress up mode!

I brought baked tortilla chips, celery and endive to dip in it and pre calculated everything so I knew how much I could have and stay within points.  I was glad to see there were other healthy options, a veggie platter and hummus.  I stayed away from the chicken fingers, mac n cheese and meatballs in gravy!  Yay me!  I did however splurge on a small slice of almond cake with a delicious sugary frosting!  It was worth every point!

Ooo what a night!

Last night I met up with some friends for beers and darts.  I always wonder how to handle the beer thing.  Do I go with low point beer that tastes like beer or darker beers that make me happy and full!?  I did a combo last night.  I had 3 Yuenglings then two Mic Ultras.   I did ALOT of dancing so I def earned some activity points there!  Being newly on plan I know I've got alot to lose and being single I'm always on the prowl!  Obviously this screws with my self esteem!  HOWEVER...... last night I put forth some serious effort to look good.  The 7 lbs I lost so far made it possible for me to wear my "hot butt" jeans!  Woo hoo!!  If you're wondering what makes jeans "hot butt" jeans I'll enlighten you!  It's all about the pockets!!!!!!!!  They need to be properly located. Not too high not too low.  The wash should be dark and for me the kind of pocket with the little flap with the button always make mine look fab!

For example:

Pockets are too high!  A little lower on the booty (and a size bigger) would help!

Too light of a wash and the pockets are too big for her butt!  They go down to her legs!  Pockets should be on the butt only!

Proof that even skinny chicks can look shitty in jeans!  Too tight and those blingy pockets!  Eek!

Pockets too wide, practically on her hips!

These are perfect!  In my opinion, for my body type. 

So back to last night... some how I managed to attract the thinest man in the bar!  He was sweet and gave me his # but I just can't get into thin men!  Maybe I think I'll crush him, maybe I think there's something very wrong about dating someone who's ass I could kick!  Haha.  Regardless, I had a blast and met a new female friend so yay! a new dance partner :)

I rolled into bed around 1:30am, late for a 33 yr old!  I woke up famished and couldn't wait for some yummy breakfast!  Here's what I had:

1 Light Whole Grain Thomas's English Muffin 3 PP
1 Slice Cabot Cheddar Cheese 2 PP
1 Egg 2 PP
1 Slice Canadian Bacon 1 PP

Total 8 PP, pricy but yummy!

Sorry that pic is a little dark... the sun wasn't quite out yet!  And with it...

I'm never without this bottle.  Always full of ice cold water! 

Well, that's all for now.  Hope you all have a fab day!

Who I am, why I'm doing this and what to expect from this blog!

Hello Readers! 
Welcome to my very 1st blog post!  I'll start by telling you a bit about me.  I'm a 33 year old single Mom to a spectacular little girl.  I work full time, have my daughter 4 days a week and still have to make time for dieting and a social life!  I started Weight Watchers (for the 3rd time!) 2 weeks ago and so far have lost 7 pounds and have managed to get back into my one size down jeans!  Woo hoo!  I read quite a few blogs, mostly diet related and decided to do my own.  It'll definately be a mish mash of my social life stories,  recipes, battles and successes!

Hope you enjoy it!